Coronary artery bypass surgery in patients with left ventricular dysfunction

The effects of coronary artery bypass surgery in patients with left ventricular dysfunction (left ventricular ejection fraction of less than 45 percent) on survival, symptoms, left ventricular ejection fraction, and regional left ventricular function were prospectively assessed in 34 patients. Left ventricular function was serially assessed by nuclear angiocardiography. Operative mortality was 9 percent, and mortality during the follow-up period was 10 percent. Twenty of 21 patients with class III or IV anginal symptoms preoperatively improved by at least two functional classes. Seven of 10 patients with class III or IV symptoms of heart failure preoperatively improved by at least one functional class. Global left ventricular ejection fraction improved significantly with surgery (p less than 0.05). Regional left ventricular systolic function improved as well (p less than 0.005). These findings suggest that in selected patients with left ventricular dysfunction, coronary artery bypass surgery can be performed with acceptable mortality and may result in symptomatic and functional benefit.